A clogged drain is not a pretty sight. It can be anywhere in your home- in the toilet, the sink or the bathroom tub or basin. You get to witness dirty water and other sewer contents that should’ve been on its way to the municipal sewer system instead of lurking around your home.

Before you try to tackle the issue, stop and think. These type of issues are bound to get worse if not handled by plumbing experts. Your best option will be to call our licensed plumbers and have us deal with the plumbing issue at hand. Should you decide to try, watch out for these 5 Mistakes to Avoid with Drain Cleaning in Ogden, UT:

1. Using the Incorrect Plunger

Don’t reach for the nearest plunger when trying to solve a drain problem. You should know that there are 2 kinds of plungers- one has a flat bottom which is used for clogged sinks, while the other has a bell-shaped bottom used for toilets. The proper use of a plunger is key to taking out the clog.

You’ll have to make sure the drain is sealed first before starting the process. Keep the seal intact and work the proper plunger up and down until the mess is cleared out. Try to avoid working your plunger too fast. It’s a waste of good energy, and chances are the dirty water will shoot right out and make its way into your clothes and on the floor.

2. Using A Garden Hose

While it may seem to be a good idea to grab your garden hose, it’s best not to. You might think that enough water pressure should dislodge the blockage and clear it right up, right?

Unfortunately, it isn’t always the case. You also run the risk of damaging the pipe and the chance of water exiting the drain and into your face and clothes, which isn’t a pretty sight.

3. Using Things Down The Drain

You try and grab any thing at hand to try and dislodge the blockage inside your sewer pipes. The most common objects are a coat hanger, a long kitchen knife or a broom handle. You then stick it down and try to fish out the offending object up and out.

The method might work, but chances are there’s also the presence of hair near the exits which can hamper your object’s ability to reach the debris. Since all you can do is a pushing motion, you might make the problem worse and out of reach if you push the blockage further down the sewer pipes. This could lead to an even bigger plumbing problem.

4. Using Caustic Chemicals Carelessly

You might instantly reach for that chemical drain solution as soon as you see a blocked drain, but stop and think it over carefully. These caustic chemicals can burn you if you don’t handle them well. Don’t make the mistake of using the plunger vigorously after you pour the chemicals in, as it could reach your face or any part of your body. Plus, these drain solutions mostly won’t work against specific blockage problems such as paper, solid food or hair. What’s more, the nature of these chemicals can cause your pipes to prematurely break down or corrode.

5. Allowing It to Happen

The best way to prevent a clog is to be aware of what’s happening and acting upon it as soon as possible. Use a hair catcher in your bathrooms and a similar type for your kitchen sink. These tools can trap hair and other solid materials that can block your drain and cause pesky sewer pipe problems.